WILLIAM YOULE, a member of an honored pioneer family of Tazewell County, and a successful agriculturist residing in Delavan Township, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in October, 1851. He is the son of William and Sarah (Askren) Youle, natives of Yorkshire, England, who were there married May 5, 1845. Soon afterward they crossed the Atlantic, and after a short sojourn in Sandusky, Ohio, came to Illinois, in 1851, and settled in Sand Prairie Township not far from the city of Delavan. In 1866 they removed to a farm adjoining Delavan on the east, and there the father passed away August 4, 1878.
His widow is still living and makes her home in Delavan. Further information regarding the family history may be gleaned from the sketch of William Youle, Sr., presented on another page of this volume.
The family contained four sons and five daughters, but at the present time only four are living, namely: Anna, who lives with her mother in Delavan; William, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who is the wife of John T. Gibson, of Denver, Colo.; and Ada M., the wife of Harry Cheney, of Delavan. William was an infant when brought to Tazewell County, and he has known no other home than this. His life occupation has been that
of agriculture, in which, being energetic, capable and persevering, he lias gained success. His farm consists of two hundred and fifty acres adjoining the city of Delavan and contains all the improvements to be found upon a first-class modern estate. The marriage of Mr. Youle occurred April 26, 1881, and united him with Miss Ella Bratt, of Mason County, and the daughter of Job Bratt, an Englishman by birth. They are the parents of six children, who bear the names of Raymond, Carey, Walter, Clarence, Laura and Ada. The family is highly regarded in social circles and is one of the most prominent in the township.